Electromagnetic signal



Aug. 20, 1929. R. v. PHILLIPS ELEc'rRouAGm-:Txc smNAL (TOY) Filed March8, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet.

BY W@ .A1-forum! Aug. 20, 1929. R. v. PHILLIPS ELECTROMAGNETIC SIGNAL(TOY) 2 Sheets-Sheetr 2 Filed March 8, 1927 vJHHH i Rd, BY Kf/ZNZV-w, QWMATroRNEY Patented Aug. 20, `1929.

y UNITED ASTATES RA'Y V. PHILLIPS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

ELECTROMAGNETIC SIGNAL (TOY).

Application led March 8, 1927. Serial No. 178,653.

This Vinvention relates to improvements in electro-magnetic signals' andmore particularly to such signals for use on toy railroads, and thelike.

An object of the present invention is to simplify and cheapen theconstruction of such devices, so as to place the same within reach ofthe general public.

Heretofore, it has been the ractice of toy manufacturers, particularlytlpiose interested in the production and sale of electrical toys, suchas railways and their accompanying accessories, to utilize structures ofmore or less complication which necessarily increased the sale price tosuch an extent as to render the sale o f the articles practicallyprohibited Y to the man of ordinary means.

It is, therefore, Yanother object of the invention to reduce the cost ofmanufacture,

yet retain the essential elements of the articles so as to popularizeand increase the utility of accessories of the nature above described.

A feature of the present invention is the unitary structure of thedevice which adapts it for use equall as well in the operation of gatesor semap ores, so that no alteration by the manufacturer is required toadapt the electrical unit for operating either type of accessory.

Another feature of the invention is the unitary structure of theelectro-magnet enclosing shell with the standard for supporting thesignal so that the fewest possible number of parts are involved and theleast amount of handling required to assemble the entire device.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in thenovel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts,

which will be fully set Vforth in the following specification, claimedand illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a toy rail- -way gate equipped with thisimproved unit,

Figure 2 is a side View thereof showing portions in section to moreclearlyillustrate the details of construction,

Figure 3 is ra. transverse sectional view taken on line 3`3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a top plan view ofl the unit applied to a toy semaphore, and

Figure 5 is a side view of Figure 4 showing portions broken away so asto more clearly illustrate the details of construction. Referring to thedrawings in detail, the solenoid core constituting a tubular body 10 ofinsulating material is provided at one end with a cylindrical extension11. Secured to the core adjacent opposite ends are heads 12 ofinsulating material, and wound on said core between the heads is awinding 13 of an electrical conductor, the layers of which are insulatedover each other, asy is common practice. The terminals of, the conductor65 extend outward through one of the heads 12 and are carried to bindingposts mounted on a suitable base, which will be more fully hereinafterdescribed. Surrounding the winding 13 is a tubular metallic shell 14 70formed from a metal sheet provided with flange extensions 15 which lienext to each other when the sheet is bent into cylindrical form toprovide aA standard on which the signal is pivotally mounted. Tongues 16are formed on one of the flanges 15, and as illustrated in Figures 2 and3 are bent over the opposite flange to hold the parts in assembledposition and thereby forma complete standard. The upper ends of theflanges project above the body of the cylinder 14 and are pierced toreceive a pivot pin 17 upon which signal is pivotally supported. Thesignal 18, which in F igmres 1 and 2 is illustrative of the customaryrailway 85 crossing gate, comprises anY arm 19, pierced to receive thepivot pin 17 and provided with an opening to receive the pivot pin 20 ofthe movable solenoid armature 21, the opposite end of which is disposedwithin the tubular core 10, so that when the coil 13 is energized thearmature 21 will be drawn into the core10, as indicated in thevdottedline positions of Figures 1 and 5. In order to limit the movement of thearm 19 toward the coil 13, a stop 22 is formed on one edge thereof and'engages against'the armature 21 when the arm has reached its full limitof movement in one direction. Movement in the opposite direction islimited by engagement of one wall of the notch 23 against the tongue 24formed above the upper edge of the tubular shell on one of the flanges15 which serves to bind the flanges together near the pivot 17.

In the gate structure illustrated in Fig- 19 terminates in the stop ure1, the arm 19 is projected as at 25 past the pivot 17 andcouiiterweiglited as at 26,

so as to normally hold the blade 27 in eley i with the gate, such asillustrated in Figures land 2,7the cylindrical extension 11 is en-4Htered into, a suitable base 30 carrying binding posts 31 to whichterminals of the winding 13l are connected. 1While the fiic'tionalcontact between the cylindrical extension 1 1 and the wall of theopening into which it extendsr is ordinarily sufficient to retain the befound desirable device in proper position on the base, it may to formthe shell 14 and Y fthe lower end of the flanges 15 with out- Y wardlyextending ears 32 and 33 respectivesecured to the base in the which maybe are not an manner illustrated. Such ears absolute essential, but areprovided to insure Y' stability.

Gl l

In the structure illustrated in Figures 4* and 5, the cylindricalextension 11 projectsV into the `upper end of tubular column 34 whichmay in turn be supported in anyM suitable manner and the terminals ofthe f coil-13conveyed through the column as illustrated 'to suitablebinding posts (not shown). f From the foregoing, it will be ap- I parentthat a unit is provided which is caj `p'able of practical universalapplication wherever an electro-magnetically operated apparatus ormechanism is employed which is particularly adapted for electrical toys'and the same unit equally applicable to the` operation of crossing gateas to a semaphore signal. This unit may be easily and cheaplyconstructed and readily assembled at a minimum of labor and expense, sothatV a toyV i manufacturer may readily adapt the device for theproduction of many and varied accessories.

"-Wliile in the foregoing there has been shown and described thepreferred einbodii ment of this invention,.it is to be understood thatminor changes in the details and construction, combination 'andarrangement of parts, may be resorted to Without depart-- ing fromthe'spirit and scope of the inven- `tionas claimed. Y

What is claimed is V1. As a new articleof manufacture, anelectro-magnetic control unit -for signals,

blade 28 which is of compiising a magnet winding, supporting meanstherefor, a sheet of material bent to form a cylinder embracing thewinding and having engaged flangesV on one side of the cylinderextending radially therefrom, and extensions on the flanges projectingbeyond one end of the cylinder, said flange extensions forming astandard in xed definite relation to the longitudinal axis of the magnetwinding.

2. A new article of manufacture comprising a tubular core having meansat one end for connection to a base, a'magnet winding supported on saidcore, a cylinder enclosing the winding and having radially extendingopposed flanges and tongues on one ofthe flanges overlying the otherflange to bind the saine together and forni a standard, said standardprojecting beyond the end of the cylinder.

3. An electro-magnetic operating unit for signals comprising a magnetcoil, a sheet metal band enclosing said coil and having its end portionsradially extended to form flanges constituting a supporting standard fora movable signal member, and one of said flanges having parts engagedwith the other flange to secure said flanges upon each other and retainsaid band in close encircling engagement upon said coil.

' 4. As a new article of manufacture, an

electro-magnetic operating unit for signals comprising a base, a tubularcore, a winding =on said core, a sheet-metal band enclosing erating unitincluding a coil, va, cylinder embracing and holding said coil andhaving a flange extensionY projecting longitudinallyv beyond one end ofsaid cylinder to constitute a supporting` standard, an arm pivotallymounted on said standard and counterybalanced to normal position inobliquely inclined relation to said standard, and an armaturevassociated with said magnet coil `and connected with said arm to movethe latter Yfrom its normal position upon energization of the coil. Y

6. In combination, an electro-magnetic operating unit including a coil,a cylinder of sheetv material embracing and holding said coil, the endsof the sheet being laterally extended to Vform flanges, and said flangesprojecting longitudinally beyond one end of the magnet armatureassociated with said coil coil to constitute a supporting standard, andconnected with the arm to move the means for'securing said flanges toeach other, latter from its normal position upon ener- 10 an armpivotally mounted between and upon gization of the coil.

5 the ends of said flanges and oounterbalanced In testimony7 that Iclaim the foregoing as to a normal position 1n obliquely inclined remyinvention, I have signed my name hereto. lation to said standard, and anelectro- RAY V. PHILLIPS.

